ANYTIME!

TUNE IN OVER THE AIR OR VISIT OETA.TV.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRAINING FOR A GRADUATING CLASS OF CORRECTION OFFICERS.

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL AND BE ABLE TO READ YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO.

OUR SPECIAL SERIES ON OKLAHOMA BY THE DECADES CONTINUES WITH THE YEARS 2016 THROUGH 2025.

I HAD NEVER SEEN AN OUTBREAK OF A DISEASE THAT CAUSED HOSPITALS TO HAVE TO RENT REFRIGERATED TRUCKS TO HOLD ALL THE BODIES.

NEVER IN MY CAREER, NEVER SINCE OKLAHOMA CITY BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW OUTDOOR STADIUM FOR SOCCER AND FOOTBALL.

AND THE KEY TO IT IS INVESTING IN OURSELVES AND JUST RELENTLESSLY LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BIG THING.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST NEVER STOP THE LEGAL FIGHT TO KEEP YOUR ENERGY BILLS FROM RISING, TO PAY FOR NEW PLANTS BEFORE THEY GO ONLINE.

EVERY FEW DOLLARS A MONTH INCREASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

IF PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

IT SAVES CUSTOMERS MONEY OVER THE LONG TERM.

AND TWO, IT REALLY HELPS US PRESERVE OUR LOW RATES IN IN DEATH PRIMARY PRIMER WITH A SUMMER ELECTION LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY, THERE'S PROBABLY A CANDIDATE FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT YOU WANT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTERS SHOW UP FOR THEM.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS GOOD NEWS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, THE LARGEST JAIL IN OUR STATE, IS TRYING A NEW APPROACH IN TRAINING ITS CORRECTION OFFICERS.

IN A FEW WEEKS, A CLASS OF 27 NEW OFFICERS WILL GRADUATE FROM THE COUNTY'S MOST RECENT GUARD ACADEMY.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT'S NEW IN THEIR TOOLBOX.

STEVE RICH, THE GLARING ISSUE AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER HAS BEEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROPERLY TRAINED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS TO HANDLE 14 TO 1600 INMATES.

THE PEOPLE NOW IN CHARGE BELIEVE HIGHER PAY AND A NEW COMPREHENSIVE EIGHT WEEK OFFICER TRAINING ACADEMY WILL ATTRACT BETTER OFFICERS DOWN, DOWN OCOCOC.

A FACE FULL OF WHAT'S CALLED OC SPRAY, WHICH I'M TOLD IS MORE HARSH THAN PEPPER SPRAY, IS JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS.

GET BACK, GET BACK!

SAKURA CROSBY AND 34 OTHER DETENTION OFFICERS IN TRAINING HAVE GONE THROUGH SINCE THIS TWO MONTH LONG CLASS STARTED IN MAY.

GET BACK, GET BACK, GET BACK, GET BACK!

THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS HAVE CUT THEIR NUMBERS DOWN TO 28, BUT NOT THEIR RESOLVE.

YOU GOT SPRAYED, I DID, I DID.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

OH MY GOODNESS.

IT WAS WHAT THEY SAID IT WOULD BE.

IT WAS WORSE.

ALL I REMEMBER MY INSTRUCTOR TELLING ME, MY DIRECTOR DUNCAN, HE JUST SAID, BREATHE AND KEEP BLINKING.

AS SOON AS HE.

I IMPLANTED THAT IN MY HEAD.

I DID WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, I GOT SPRAYED AND I TOOK ME A SECOND.

CROSBY ORIGINALLY APPLIED FOR A JOB AS A MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL.

SHE'S WORKING ON A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK.

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN TO BE AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION OFFICER CAME UP, SHE TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE AS A WAY TO HONOR HER SON AND DAUGHTER.

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL AND BE ABLE TO READ YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO, AND NOT JUST THINKING LIKE, HEY, OKAY, IT'S JUST A PAYCHECK.

NO, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO WORK AND MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE SAFELY.

AND THE INMATES ARE SAFELY PUT THIS TRAINING UP AGAINST ANY TRAINING WITHIN THE COUNTRY, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, AND WHETHER YOU STAY HERE, YOU MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS.

WE LIKE TO SAY THAT WE WANT YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY LINE OF WORK.

BASICALLY.

BILLY PENNINGTON IS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN WHO'S CURRENTLY A RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST FOR THE U.S.

NAVY RESERVE, AND HE'S AN INSTRUCTOR IN SAQQARA, CROSBY'S CLASS AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.

IT'S ACTUALLY, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOB.

SOME PEOPLE, THEY REALIZE IT WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS A LOT MORE HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT'S PARAMILITARY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THIS AS A STEPPING STONE TO GO MORE INTO FURTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE COUNTY HAS WANTED TO BUILD A NEW JAIL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH WING SINCE THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC SIX YEARS AGO, BUT THEY'VE BEEN SHORT ON FUNDS TO DO IT WAY SHORT, MORE THAN 60 INMATES HAVE DIED IN THE JAIL SINCE 2028, DIED LAST YEAR, BUT ONLY TWO HAVE DIED SO FAR THIS YEAR.

TIM KIMREY IS A 1983 WEWOKA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.

HE'S A FORMER COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER AND TEACHER WHO SPENT TWO DECADES WITH THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL AND 15 YEARS AS A NAVY RESERVIST.

HE TOOK OVER AS CEO OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL LAST SEPTEMBER.

WE NEED PROBABLY ABOUT CLOSE TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 80 TO 100 EXTRA DETENTION OFFICERS.

SO WE'RE REALLY HURTING WHEN IT COMES TO DETENTION OFFICER POSITIONS.

HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET THAT?

WELL, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

YOU KNOW THAT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF TRAINING.

WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, OUR TRAINING WAS WAS PRETTY ABYSMAL AS FAR AS TIME.

WE WAS ONLY GETTING, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE DAYS A WEEK AT THE MOST FOR, FOR TRAINING.

WE HAVE TURNED THAT AROUND.

IT IS NOW AN EIGHT WEEK ACADEMY.

YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T A LONG TIME AGO THEY CALLED THIS ONE OF AMERICA'S DEADLIEST JAILS.

THAT'S IN THE PAST, ISN'T IT?

THAT IS IN THE PAST.

AND I'M GLAD YOU ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED THAT, BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE FROM THE MEDIA THAT ACTUALLY NOTICES THAT.

I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF A UNFAIR MONIKER THAT WAS LABELED ON US.

I'M NOT SO SURE THAT WE WERE EVER THE DEADLIEST JAIL IN AMERICA.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON HERE THAT PEOPLE DON'T, DON'T SEE.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY KIND OF HAVE AN ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK APPROACH TO, YOU KNOW, THEIR OPINION.

AND SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE LAST YEAR TO MAKE THINGS BETTER HERE.

I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

ON CLEANING THE JAIL UP.

CAMRY SOUGHT AND RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY TO RAISE THE STARTING SALARIES FOR DETENTION OFFICERS TO $47,000.

OF COURSE, AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, THEY'LL GET ANOTHER PAY RAISE.

IT'S A SMALLER ONE, BUT IT BUMPS THEM UP TO ABOUT $50,000.

SO AFTER ONE YEAR YOU CAN MAKE $50,000, WHICH IS NOT BAD FOR AN 18, 19 YEAR OLD KID, 20 YEAR OLD KID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FIRST COMING OUT, STARTING THEIR CAREER.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A BAD WAY.

ONE, TWO, THREE ONE.

BILLY PENNINGTON SAYS CAMRY'S LEADERSHIP IS WORKING.

HE JUST BROUGHT IN A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE BRINGING A CULTURE CHANGE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE TRAINING DIVISION, BRING A CULTURE CHANGE WITHIN THIS FACILITY AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OUT THERE IN A SOCIETY.

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE CULTURE HERE?

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE NARRATIVE?

IT STARTS FROM THE GROUND UP AND THE TRAINING DIVISION.

IT STARTS RIGHT HERE WITH THE CADETS.

THAT'S WHAT WE TELL THEM EVERY DAY IN HERE.

WE TELL THEM THE TWO MAIN THINGS.

OFFICER, SAFETY AND TEAMWORK.

COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK, COME BACK.

BERNARDO VILLEGAS IS FROM EL PASO.

HE'S HERE AFTER WORKING SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TOUGH THIS IS A TOUGH DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO WORK CORRECTIONS.

IT'S STRESSFUL.

YEAH.

THIS IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK HERE.

YEAH, IT'S A LOT.

IT'S A LOT FOR THE HUMAN MIND.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOUR AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T SEE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

WE'RE KIND OF FOCUSED ON THE HERE AND NOW, AND WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON WHAT WE HAVE AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.

I HOPE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY, THAT THEY GET THE THE NEW JAIL BUILT.

BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FOR THE POLITICIANS TO DECIDE.

KIMREY EXPECTS AN EVEN LARGER CADET CLASS WHEN THEIR NEXT ACADEMY BEGINS IN AUGUST.

THE STARTING SALARY RAISE IS SIGNIFICANT, FOLKS, BECAUSE 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, THE STARTING SALARY FOR DETENTION OFFICER THERE WAS BELOW $40,000.

RICH.

STEVE.

THANK YOU.

OKLAHOMA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP ON JUNE 16TH.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OFFICES UP FOR GRABS.

IN ADDITION TO AN IMPORTANT STATE QUESTION CONCERNING A HIKE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE AND OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, MODERATOR SUSAN AND HER PANEL WILL BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU SO YOU CAN MAKE INFORMED CHOICES WHEN YOU HEAD TO THE POLLS ON THE 16TH.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RACES WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY A CANDIDATE FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT YOU WANT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTERS SHOW UP FOR THEM.

AND SO PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE SELECTION OF THOSE, THOSE EVENTUAL NOMINEES.

SINCE UP UNTIL LAST FRIDAY, GENTNER DRUMMOND WAS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE WOULD BE THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM FRONTRUNNER.

AND LAST FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHED IN.

AND ONCE HE DID, THEN IT KIND OF PUT THE LANDSCAPE OF OKLAHOMA KIND OF HAS BEEN SHIFTING EVER SINCE.

IT'S MIKE MAZIE, THE NUMBER ONE.

SO WE HAVE A LEADING CANDIDATE, CYNDI MUNSON.

SHE'S THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEMOCRAT, AND SHE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR OVER A YEAR.

CONNIE JOHNSON JUMPED IN AT THE FILING DEADLINE.

SHE HAS RUN BEFORE.

ARIA IS KIND OF AN UNKNOWN PERSON WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO DEFINITELY DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHOICE IN JUNE, AND WE HOPE THEY'LL TURN OUT THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE ARE NOW LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY FROM CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, AND FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE AIRED SPECIAL REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA'S HISTORY SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL IN 1976.

THIS MONTH, WE ASKED NOAH MACK TO LOOK BACK AT THE YEARS 2016 THROUGH 2025, AND HE JOINS US NOW.

NOAH.

YEAH, RICH, THIS DECADE WAS FILLED WITH TRAGEDY AS THE COVID PANDEMIC BEFELL THE WORLD.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF TRIUMPH.

OKLAHOMA TRIBES WERE ON THE RISE AFTER THE MCGIRT DECISION, AND SO WERE THE STATE'S VERY FIRST NBA CHAMPIONS.

IN 2016, OKLAHOMA WAS HIT WITH ITS LARGEST EARTHQUAKE IN STATE HISTORY.

WASTEWATER WELL OPERATIONS REINVIGORATED THE UNDISCOVERED FAULT, WHILE PAWNEE HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE ROCKED BY THE 5.8 TREMOR.

I CAN SHOW YOU ENGINEERING REPORTS THAT SHOW THAT MY HOUSE WAS DESTROYED.

AND SHOTS HEARD AROUND THE NATION, SHOTS FIRED AND 321 SHOTS FIRED.

WE HAVE ONE SUSPECT DOWN.

MY PHONE RANG AND IT WAS MY FATHER, MY HERO ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE, HYSTERICAL, SCREAMING THAT THEY KILLED HIS SON.

HE SCREAMED, THEY KILLED MY SON.

AND I ASKED WHO?

AND HE SAID, THE POLICE.

IN POLICE FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT, 40 YEAR OLD TERENCE CRUTCHER IS SEEN WITH HIS HANDS IN THE AIR GUN DRAWN.

TULSA OFFICER BETTY SHELBY SAYS SHE PERCEIVED HE WAS REACHING FOR A WEAPON INSIDE THE CAR.

SHE SHOT AND KILLED CRUTCHER.

LATER, IT WAS DISCOVERED HE DID NOT HAVE A WEAPON ON HIS PERSON, NOR IN THE VEHICLE.

TERENCE WASN'T A BAD DUDE.

I DON'T THINK A DAY HAS WENT BY THAT I HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT MY TWIN BROTHER.

PROTESTS OVER THE KILLING UNFURLED ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

KNOW YOUR IMAGE OF ME IS WHAT I HOPE TO BE.

THE YEAR ENDED WITH THE LOSS OF OKLAHOMA MUSIC LEGEND LEON RUSSELL, REACHING THE AGE OF 74.

THE TULSA NATIVE WAS A TWO TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ROCK STAR AND PROUD OKLAHOMAN.

THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE CAME UP SHORT $800 MILLION AND HISTORIC CUTS BEGAN TO PUT PRESSURE ON OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE EDUCATION CRISIS REACHED A BREAKING POINT IN 2018.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS LEFT SCHOOL AND FLOODED THE CAPITOL TO PROTEST EDUCATION CUTS AND INADEQUATE PAY.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY TEACHERS I HAD IN LAWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAME TO THE CAPITOL DURING THAT WALKOUT AND CAME TO MY OFFICE.

THAT IMPACTED ME IN A BIG WAY.

HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2018.

THROUGH A SUCCESSFUL STATE QUESTION.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MADE ITS DEBUT IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT RESPOND TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE.

AND SO THEY USED THE INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS TO GET IT DONE.

I FURTHER SWEAR, I FURTHER SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AS GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA SWORE IN ITS NEW HEAD OF STATE IN 2019, CURRENT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT.

HE VOWED TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND MAKE OKLAHOMA A TOP TEN STATE.

LET'S GET THIS DONE TOGETHER, FOLKS, BECAUSE OKLAHOMA'S TURNAROUND STARTS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

LATER THAT YEAR, STITT OVERSAW FATAL FLOODS IN TULSA THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AND WREAKED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES.

HE ALSO INITIATED HIS INFAMOUS FEUD WITH OKLAHOMA TRIBES.

THE GOVERNOR.

MADE A REAL MISSTEP, IN MY ESTIMATION, BY TELLING TRIBES WHAT HE WANTED IN TERMS OF A GAMING COMPACT, WHICH TELLING US WHAT HE WANTED THROUGH AN OP ED THAT I READ IN THE TULSA WORLD, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO TREAT A PARTNER WITH RESPECT, HE PUSHED SEVERAL TRIBAL LEADERS INTO NEGOTIATING NEW GAMING COMPACTS BY INSISTING AFTER 15 YEARS, THE OLD ONES WOULD EXPIRE.

HIS POSITION WAS WRONG ON THE LAW AND THE FACTS.

AND OF COURSE, THE COURTS ULTIMATELY VINDICATED THAT.

COME 2020, A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC INTERRUPTED SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND RESHAPED DAY TO DAY LIFE.

MANY WORKPLACES BEGAN TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

AS A CAUCUS, WE WERE ON ZOOM ALL THE TIME.

WE ULTIMATELY DID END UP COMING BACK TO THE CAPITOL, WHERE WE WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

WE HAD PLASTIC DIVIDERS BETWEEN US AND OUR OUR SEAT MATES.

THE FIRST CASE OF COVID 19 IN OKLAHOMA WAS ON MARCH 7TH, AND ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER, THE FIRST DEATH.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, 4847 OKLAHOMANS DIED OF COVID IN 2020.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I HAD NEVER SEEN AN OUTBREAK OF A DISEASE THAT CAUSED HOSPITALS TO HAVE TO RENT REFRIGERATED TRUCKS TO HOLD ALL THE BODIES.

NEVER IN MY CAREER, NEVER SINCE.

THANK YOU, PANELISTS, FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND FOR ALL THE VICTIMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF THE DECADE IN OKLAHOMA WAS THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN MCGIRT V OKLAHOMA.

THE HIGH COURT DECIDED IN A 5 TO 4 RULING THAT CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IS IN THE HANDS OF FEDERAL AND TRIBAL COURTS IF THE CRIME IS COMMITTED ON SOVEREIGN TRIBAL LAND.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER.

IT'S THE PROPOSITION THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES MAKES A PROMISE TO INDIAN COUNTRY, THAT IT IS EXCEEDINGLY AND OUGHT TO BE EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO GET OUT OF THAT PROMISE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT SAID WAS THE CONGRESS NEVER TERMINATED THE RESERVATION.

COVID FESTERS, AND 2021 BECOMES THE DEADLIEST YEAR FOR THE VIRUS IN OKLAHOMA, 7279 OKLAHOMANS DIED THAT YEAR.

AMERICA 2021 ALSO MARKED 100 YEARS SINCE THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

THE FACT THAT THIS MASSACRE WAS UNKNOWN FOR ALMOST A CENTURY BEARS TESTAMENT TO THIS COUNTRY'S WILLFUL ACT OF FORGETTING.

OKLAHOMA RESUMED EXECUTIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2021.

JULIUS JONES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EXECUTION IN ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, BUT HOURS BEFORE HIS SCHEDULED DEATH, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT COMMUTED HIS SENTENCE TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

MONEY FLOWS FREELY HERE NOW.

I DO LOVE THAT MONEY, SIR.

THE PRODUCTION OF KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON KICKED OFF.

MARTIN SCORSESE SHOT THE HOLLYWOOD RETELLING OF THE 1920S OSAGE MURDERS IN PARTS OF OSAGE COUNTY TO CAPTURE THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE OF GREEN COUNTRY AND COLLABORATE WITH THE OSAGE PEOPLE, AND 2022 BROUGHT ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR TV AND MOVIES IN OKLAHOMA.

WHEN SYLVESTER STALLONE CAME TO OKLAHOMA TO SHOOT HIS PARAMOUNT SERIES, TULSA, TULSA, WHICH TULSA, I WANT YOU TO GO THERE.

THE HORSE RACE, THE SPRINGBOARD MILE.

THERE'S NOBODY DOING NOTHING.

YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND SIGN THIS BILL, AND WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO A FEW QUESTIONS.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED AT THE TIME THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN IN THE NATION, JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE LONG STANDING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION.

STITT WON HIS 2022 REELECTION BID.

AND THE ERA OF RYAN WALTERS BEGINS.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

THEY'RE A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CONTENT MEMBERS, MEMBERS, AT LEAST THE LAST TWO TIMES OKLAHOMA STATE HAS COME OUT ON TOP.

THAT'S IT.

BOWMAN TAKES A KNEE.

THE FINAL BEDLAM IS IN THE BOOKS.

IT GOES TO THE COWBOYS.

2023 WAS OU'S LAST SEASON PLAYING IN THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE, AND ALL EYES WERE ON THE FINAL BEDLAM RIVALRY GAME BETWEEN OKLAHOMA STATE AND OU.

IN A CLOSE 27 TO 24 GAME, THE COWBOYS TOOK THE VICTORY, SAYING SAYONARA TO THE SOONERS.

DON'T LET THE OLD MAN IN 2024 STRUCK A SOMBER TONE IN THE STATE, AS COUNTRY STAR TOBY KEITH DIED AFTER BATTLING STOMACH CANCER.

CAN'T LEAVE IT UP TO HIM.

OSAGE PERFORMERS TOOK TO THE STAGE AT THE 96TH OSCARS FOR A RENDITION OF WIZARD FROM KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.

SONGWRITER SCOTT GEORGE BECAME THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE BEST ORIGINAL SONG.

THE THUNDER HAVE TAKEN THE NBA BY STORM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE NBA CHAMPION RESIDES IN OKLAHOMA CITY WITH TV'S ON IN HOMES AND SPORTS BARS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE THUNDER BEAT THE INDIANA PACERS 103 TO 91 IN GAME SEVEN OF THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

ALL OF THE SEEN, ALL OF THE SIGHTS, ALL OF THE SOUNDS.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW YOU THINK IS A MOVIE REALLY.

SPORTS FANS FROM ACROSS THE STATE FLOODED INTO DOWNTOWN OKC FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND GET TO CELEBRATE THIS TEAM.

AND I THINK REALLY, BY EXTENSION, CELEBRATE WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY HAD BECOME AND IS BECOMING, WHICH IS THIS, YOU KNOW, TRANSCENDENT CITY BEYOND WHAT IT WAS EVEN, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, 25 YEARS AGO, OBVIOUSLY, THE CONNECTION TO THE BOMBING AND ALL THAT'S COME AND CHANGED SINCE THEN, EVEN AS WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT AS A VERY CENTRAL PART OF WHAT WE ARE AS A CITY.

IT ALL OF THAT'S TIED IN ALL OF THAT EMOTION, ALL OF THAT HISTORY, ALL OF THE FUTURE.

I THINK IT'S ALL SORT OF TIED INTO THIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

YOU KNOW, FIVE GUYS IN SHORT PANTS OUT THERE PLAYING BASKETBALL.

AND 2025 ENDED WITH THE HOTTEST CHRISTMAS EVER IN OKLAHOMA HOVERING AROUND 80 DEGREES.

COMING UP ON FRIDAY, JULY 3RD, WE'LL CONCLUDE OUR SERIES WITH AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

IN OKLAHOMA.

SUSAN CADOTTE WILL ASK A PANEL OF FUTURISTS WHAT THEY THINK THE BIGGEST STORIES AND DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE BETWEEN NOW AND AMERICA'S 300TH BIRTHDAY IN 2076.

RICH NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT WORK.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE A GRANDPARENT RAISING A GRANDCHILD, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THIS.

SUNBEAM FAMILY SERVICES IS NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR 150 QUALIFIED FAMILIES IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

IF ACCEPTED, YOU CAN RECEIVE A FREE BACKPACK FULL OF GRADE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE@SSOK.ORG OR CALL (405) 605-7090.

IF YOU ARE A GRANDPARENT, RAISING YOUR GRANDCHILD OR GRANDCHILDREN, OR IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS IN THAT SITUATION, PLEASE CONTACT SUNBEAM.

WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM CALLED GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, AND ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE IS HOLIDAY AND BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPORT.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING FOR GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN TO APPLY ONLINE THROUGH JULY 10TH, AND THIS IS TO RECEIVE BACK TO SCHOOL ITEMS.

WE ESTIMATE IT'S ABOUT $100 PER CHILD TO GET THEM READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL.

THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SUNBEAM FAMILY SERVICES, TRIAD AND THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SHOULD OKLAHOMA CONSUMERS BE REQUIRED TO HELP PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ENERGY PLANTS BEFORE THOSE PLANTS ARE ONLINE AND PRODUCING ELECTRICITY?

THAT QUESTION IS AT THE HEART OF A LAWSUIT FILED BY AARP, WHICH SAYS THE ANSWER IS NO.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM OUR NEWSROOM TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR YOUR ENERGY BILLS GOING FORWARD, JASON.

RICH, AARP SAYS IT'S PROTECTING ITS MEMBERS FROM HIGHER UTILITY COSTS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THE NEWLY IMPLEMENTED LAW ALSO SAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING FOR ELECTRIC GENERATION BEFORE IT GOES ONLINE, THEY'RE CUTTING BACK ON BILLS PAID FOR OTHER UTILITIES.

AARP OKLAHOMA STATE DIRECTOR SHAWN VOSKUHL IS GOING OVER A RECENT SURVEY, WHICH SHOWS MEMBERS IN OKLAHOMA ARE CURRENTLY MAKING CUTBACKS TO HELP PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS.

BECAUSE THINGS ARE ALREADY TIGHT FOR MANY OF OKLAHOMA'S OLDER RESIDENTS.

AARP IS ASKING THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT TO RULE THAT THE LAW, WHICH ALLOWS UTILITIES TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR GENERATION PROJECTS BEFORE THEY GO ONLINE, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE LAW, SENATE BILL 998, ALLOWS FOR UTILITIES TO RECOUP COSTS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS PROGRAM, OR SEA WHIP.

IT REALLY JUST GIVES UTILITY COMPANIES A BLANK CHECK TO PAY FOR ANY KIND OF UPGRADES OR POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION REGARDING NATURAL GAS, AND IT JUST PREVENTS THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION FROM DOING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES AND PROVIDING A CHECK AND BALANCE SYSTEM WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT THESE COST OVERRUNS DON'T HAPPEN EVEN IF THE CHARGE IS MINIMAL PER CUSTOMER.

COMING UP WITH THAT EXTRA MONEY CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR SOME WHO HAVE RETIRED AND LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME PAY.

A FEW DOLLARS A MONTH CAN MEAN CAN BE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES.

AS OUR SURVEY SHOWED IN APRIL, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING THOSE TOUGH, DIFFICULT TRADE OFFS OF WHAT AM I GOING TO SUBSTITUTE?

THE AARP POLL, TAKEN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, INDICATES OKLAHOMA'S 50 AND OLDER ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASED UTILITY COSTS.

86% OF THOSE SURVEYED WHO PAY AN ELECTRICITY BILL SAY IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THEIR FINANCES IF ELECTRICITY BILLS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

2 IN 5 OF THOSE SAY IT WOULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THEM.

75% SAY THEY HAVE MADE CHANGES TO REDUCE HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES WHERE POSSIBLE, AND 94% SAY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PAYING A UTILITY BILL AND OTHER EXPENSES, LIKE FOOD AND MEDICINE.

EVERY FEW DOLLARS A MONTH INCREASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

JOINING AARP IN THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SEA WHIP LAW IS THE OKLAHOMA INDUSTRIAL ENERGY CONSUMERS, OR.

OH, I SEE UTILITY CUSTOMERS ARE BASICALLY BEING THE BANKER NOW FOR THE UTILITY.

AND THAT MEANS THAT UTILITY CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR RATES INCREASED IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THESE UTILITY INVESTMENTS.

OIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOM SCHRADER SAYS THAT HIS ORGANIZATION FEELS SENATE BILL 998 IS CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE OF THE WAY SEA WHIP WAS CRAFTED.

IT TAKES THE AUTHORITY FROM THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION TO BE AN INDEPENDENT REGULATOR.

SO IT BASICALLY TELLS THE CORPORATION COMMISSION YOU HAVE TO INCREASE RATES FOR CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THESE UTILITY GENERATING PLANTS.

AND THAT'S THAT'S WHY THAT'S THE BASIS OF THE APPEAL, IS IT INTERFERES WITH THE CORPORATION COMMISSION'S DUTY TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE RATES.

THE MOST RECENT SEA WHIP CASE COMING BEFORE THE CORPORATION COMMISSION IS FROM THE UTILITY, SAID IN A STATEMENT IT BELIEVES SEA WHIP IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

THE APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS FOR NEW NATURAL GAS GENERATION ALLOWS PSO TO BRING CRITICAL GENERATION ONLINE FASTER AND AT A LOWER OVERALL COST, BY ENABLING RECOVERY OF FINANCING COSTS DURING CONSTRUCTION.

SEA WHIP REDUCES THE TOTAL COST OF BUILDING NEW RESOURCES AND AVOIDS LARGER COST INCREASES ONCE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE.

THIS STREAMLINED APPROACH SUPPORTS TIMELY INVESTMENT IN NATURAL GAS GENERATION REQUIRED TO ENSURE CUSTOMERS HAVE THE POWER THEY NEED AT A LOWER COST.

OGE PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO GET SEA WHIP APPROVAL FOR THE HORSESHOE LAKE PLANT'S TWO NEW NATURAL GAS GENERATORS, BUT WAS DENIED, MOSTLY DUE TO TIMING.

THE UTILITY IS APPEALING THAT DECISION, AND THE STATE'S LARGEST ELECTRIC PROVIDER BELIEVES SEA WHIP IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE BELIEVE THAT ONE, IT SAVES CUSTOMERS MONEY OVER THE LONG TERM AND TWO, IT REALLY HELPS US PRESERVE OUR LOW RATES.

WE.

OCEANIA HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES COMPARATIVELY IN THE NATION AND IN THE REGION, ALSO TEXAS.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE THOSE RATES.

OGE SPOKESPERSON DUSTIN GABIS EXPLAINS THAT SEA WHIP CAN WORK MUCH LIKE A STUDENT LOAN.

THEY CAN EITHER PAY THE INTEREST ON THE LOAN AFTER THEY LEAVE COLLEGE OR START TO PAY THINGS DOWN BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.

REALLY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE WANT TO PAY THAT THAT INTEREST ON THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THAT LOWER PAYMENT ON THE BACK END.

SOME OF THESE PROJECTIONS ARE WE'RE ON A ON A $400 MILLION PROJECT.

WE COULD SAVE CONSUMERS $100 MILLION BY USING THIS.

REPRESENTATIVE TREY CALDWELL IS THE HOUSE AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 998 AND SAYS THE SEA WHIP PROCESS WILL END WITH LONG TERM SAVINGS.

DESPITE THE FEARS OF THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO STOP THE LAW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS A 50 YEAR LIFESPAN, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OVERALL COST.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST THE CONSUMERS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA OVER THAT 50 YEARS?

AND ANY TIME THAT WE CAN TRY TO SAVE CONSUMERS MONEY, WE SHOULD DO IT.

CALDWELL SAYS THE SEA WHIP LAW WAS WRITTEN SO THAT ALL THE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ARE MET BY THE UTILITIES APPLYING TO BE REIMBURSED BY RATEPAYERS AS THE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY.

IT ALSO ONLY APPLIES TO NATURAL GAS GENERATION BUILT BY THE UTILITIES, NOT THINGS LIKE SOLAR OR WIND POWER.

NATURAL GAS ELECTRON PRODUCTION IS THE MOST DISPATCHABLE, MOST RELIABLE, HAS THE MOST PEAK OPERATING EFFICIENCY.

AS BOTH SIDES OF THE LAWSUIT WAIT TO HEAR IF THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL TAKE UP THE CASE, THEY ARGUE TAKING CARE OF RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IS TOP OF MIND.

OGAS SAYS IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR APPEAL, THE SAVINGS WILL BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME.

WE ESTIMATE THAT WOULD SAVE $176 MILLION OVER THE LONG TERM, SO IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER SAVINGS.

AARP VOSKUYL SEES IT DIFFERENTLY.

WE HEAR THAT SENTIMENT.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY IN 20 YEARS OR SO, IS IT REALLY A SAVINGS?

REPRESENTATIVE TOM GANN ALSO IS INVOLVED IN PUSHING BACK ON CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS APPROVALS.

HE'S SUING TO REVERSE THE CORPORATION COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF PSO'S USE OF SEA WHIP FINANCING FOR NEW NATURAL GAS GENERATORS.

RICH, JASON.

EXCELLENT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

IT'S A GOOD BET THAT OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND MAYBE THE WORLD THAT'S GOING TO OPEN A BRAND NEW INDOOR AND OUTDOOR MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN 2028.

CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW HOME FOR THE THUNDER IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND ON MONDAY, DIGNITARIES BREAKING GROUND ON A $120 MILLION OUTDOOR STADIUM.

THE HOST NEW PROFESSIONAL SOCCER AND FOOTBALL FRANCHISES BUILT TO SEE JUST OVER TEN 000 PEOPLE.

THE FACILITY IS DESIGNED TO EXPAND ITS CAPACITY IF NEEDED.

ONE OF THE INVESTORS IN THE NEW STADIUM, NINE TIME NBA ALL STAR AND FORMER THUNDER GUARD RUSSELL WESTBROOK.

ANY OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY, TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE PEOPLE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TODAY.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT I THINK IT'S FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION, OUR KIDS, OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN COME WATCH GAMES, GET INSPIRED.

AND I'M JUST TRULY GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS.

THANK ALL YOU GUYS.

ONCE AGAIN, I'LL CONTINUE POURING BACK INTO THE CITY AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.

SO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

THERE'S REALLY ONLY TWO SPORTS THAT ARE PLAYED EVERYWHERE BASKETBALL AND SOCCER.

AND SOCCER IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE NUMBER ONE MOST POPULAR SPORT IN THE WORLD.

AND WITHOUT A STADIUM, WE WERE GOING TO KIND OF HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THAT SPORT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A HEALTHY THING FOR A CITY THAT WANTS TO BE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO TO STAY IN THE GAME OF SOCCER, FOOTBALL, AS THEY CALL IT, EVERYWHERE ELSE.

AND, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY FITTING FOR A CITY THAT REALLY HAS LEVERAGED SPORTS TO AN INCREDIBLE DEGREE TO RAISE OUR BRAND AND OUR IDENTITY IN A WAY THAT HAS GROWN OUR ECONOMY AND, AND BROUGHT GROWTH IN POPULATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

THE STADIUM IS BEING PAID FOR WITH MAPS FOR FUNDING.

OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS FAILED TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF HOUSE BILL 4294, WHICH WOULD HAVE EXPANDED DILLON'S LAW FOR ONE FOR OKLAHOMA'S LIVING WITH EPILEPSY.

NOW, ONE ORGANIZATION SAYS IT IS, QUOTE, DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

TAYLOR.

YEAH.

RICH.

MORE THAN 41,000 OKLAHOMANS ARE LIVING WITH EPILEPSY.

THE STITT NEWMAN FOUNDATION SAYS THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND SEE IF WE CAN PASS THIS BILL.

REGGIE WHITNEY IS TALKING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 4294, AN EXPANSION OF DILLON'S LAW WITH SEVERAL NEW PROVISIONS, INCLUDING REQUIRING HEALTH CARE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE THE SAME COVERAGE BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY AS IT WOULD FOR A PERSON WHO WAS NOT DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY.

REGGIE AND HIS DAUGHTER, HANNAH WITTON, WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS ON THE BILL AND SAY FAIR COVERAGE FOR OKLAHOMANS WITH EPILEPSY IS A MUST.

MY FATHER NEVER HESITATED ONCE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THINGS THAT MY BROTHER NEEDED, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIGHT THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY OR PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THINGS THAT SOMEBODY WHO NEVER WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL DEEMS NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

HANNAH'S BROTHER SUDDENLY DIED FROM EPILEPSY IN 2017.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT OFFERED THIS WRITTEN EXPLANATION FOR WHY HE VETOED THE BILL.

THIS MEASURE WOULD REQUIRE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH A PARTICULAR CONDITION AND PAY FOR COSTLY MEDICAL DEVICES.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS TYPE OF TOP DOWN UNFUNDED MANDATE INTERFERES WITH THE FREE MARKET AND SHIFTS THE COST ONTO ALL POLICYHOLDERS, MAKING IT HARDER TO KEEP HEALTH INSURANCE AFFORDABLE FOR OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

REGGIE WITTON HAS SPENT THE LAST 45 YEARS PRACTICING LAW.

IN THE FIRST 20 YEARS, HE REPRESENTED THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT THINGS ARE COVERED OR NOT?

WHO AMONG US KNOWS WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET SICK AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET SICK WITH?

SO IN THIS CASE, I'VE NEVER MET GOVERNOR STITT.

BUT WHO GETS TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY DON'T GET INSURANCE COVERAGE, BUT PEOPLE WITH PROSTATE CANCER DO, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDING EARLIER THAN EXPECTED, MANY BILLS LIKE HOUSE BILL 4294 WERE LEFT ON THE TABLE WITHOUT A VETO OVERRIDE.

I WAS ABSOLUTELY HOPING WE COULD OVERRIDE THE VETO, AND FRANKLY, WE DID HAVE THE VOTES.

WHEN WE COUNTED ALL THE SUPPORTERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN REVISIT IT NEXT YEAR, PACE SAYS.

PRIOR TO DILLON'S LAW, HE WAS UNAWARE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE HE KNEW THAT LIVED WITH EPILEPSY.

I HAD MANY CONSTITUENTS AND FRIENDS WHO I HAD NO IDEA LIVING WITH EPILEPSY, SO I FELT IT WAS GOOD POLICY.

IT WAS A GOOD ENDEAVOR, AT A MINIMUM, TO TRY TO DE-STIGMATIZE THE ISSUE HERE AND THE BILL WE PASSED LAST YEAR, IT HAD A LOT OF GREAT ELEMENTS IN THERE.

DILLON'S LAW IS NAMED AFTER HANNAH WITTON'S BROTHER, DILLON, WHO WAS BORN WITH EPILEPSY.

WELL, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO REPRESENTATIVE PAY AND SENATOR STANLEY FOR TAKING SUCH AN INTEREST.

WE HAD AN EDUCATION ON EPILEPSY JUST BY TRYING TO KEEP DILLON'S SEIZURE FREE AND SAFE, REGGIE SAYS.

AS A PARENT, IT'S HARD TO WATCH YOUR CHILD SUFFER FROM A DISEASE.

DILLON WAS BORN WITH EPILEPSY, AND ORIGINALLY THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE HAD.

ORIGINALLY, THE FAMILY DOCTOR JUST DESCRIBED THEM AS NIGHT TERRORS.

MOST OF HIS EVENTS WERE NOT ETERNAL, AND HE JUST WOKE UP SCREAMING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'D HOLD HIM, BUT HE COULDN'T COMMUNICATE.

LATER, THEY DIAGNOSED HIM WITH EPILEPSY.

ONCE DILLON HAD AS MANY AS 300 SEIZURES IN JUST ONE DAY, HE WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF HIS BODY AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

HE WOULD BITE HIS TONGUE.

WE WERE AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO BITE HIS TONGUE OFF.

HE WOULD BITE HIS CHEEKS.

HE WOULD FLAIL AROUND.

WE WERE ALWAYS AFRAID OF HIM FALLING AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING A HEAD INJURY.

DILLON DIED AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 25 DUE TO SUDEP.

IN 25 YEARS.

NOBODY EVER INFORMED DILLON OR MY FAMILY OF SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED DEATH IN EPILEPSY.

BUT AFTER HE DIED, WE SAW THAT ON HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE, AND WE LEARNED THAT DILLON HAD EVERY SINGLE RISK FACTOR.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, COMMON FACTORS INCLUDE HAVING SEIZURES FROM A YOUNG AGE, BEING MALE, GENERALIZED SEIZURES, AND HAVING SEIZURES DURING SLEEP.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT FOR EVERY 1000 U.S.

ADULTS WITH EPILEPSY, 1ST MAY DIE FROM SUDEP.

SHE HAD NIGHTTIME SEIZURES.

HE HAD MOVEMENT SEIZURES.

HE HAD AN INABILITY TO ACHIEVE SEIZURE CONTROL THROUGH MEDICATION, DEVICES OR SURGERIES.

HE WAS SUCH A LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR SUDEP, AND THERE ARE MEASURABLE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK.

THOSE MEASURABLE WAYS INCLUDED GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP, TAKING PRESCRIBED SEIZURE MEDICATION, AND AVOIDING SEIZURE TRIGGERS.

JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE DILLON'S PASSING, HE TOLD HIS FATHER THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE IT HIS LIFE MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR EPILEPSY PATIENTS.

WE WENT TO AN EPILEPSY SEMINAR IN CHICAGO FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CURE, EPILEPSY AND DILLON.

THIS WAS THREE MONTHS BEFORE HE DIED AND HE SAID, DAD, CAN WE DO THIS THE REST OF OUR LIVES?

AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT PROJECT FOR HE AND I TO WORK ON.

AND HE DIED THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT.

BUT THAT WAS DILLON'S DREAM, WAS TO FIND A CURE FOR EPILEPSY, FIND BETTER TREATMENT, AND GET EVERYBODY LIKE HIM THE SAME KIND OF TREATMENT.

THAT'S WHAT HE DREAMED ABOUT.

NOW HIS SISTER CARRIES ON THAT DREAM IN HIS HONOR.

I THINK IF YOU ARE DISPIRITED AND LIVING WITH EPILEPSY IN OKLAHOMA, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL FIGHT THE REST OF OUR LIVES TO IMPROVE YOURS.

AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS ON HOW WE COULD DO THAT BETTER, WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN EARS.

SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO STAY HOPEFUL.

IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DILLON'S DREAM, YOU CAN VISIT DILLON DREAM FOUNDATION.ORG.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, GOVERNOR DRUMMOND FILES A LAWSUIT TO STOP THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ALUMINUM PLANT IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE, ATTORNEY GENERAL GARDNER DRUMMOND FILED THE LAWSUIT TO STOP WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST ALUMINUM SMELTER BUILT IN THE U.S.

THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS SLATED TO BE BUILT IN INOLA BY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EMIRATES GLOBAL ALUMINUM AND CHICAGO BASED CENTURY ALUMINUM.

THE LAWSUIT, FILED IN ROGERS COUNTY, ASSERTS THAT THE PROJECT COULD BE A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION TOO CLOSE TO HOMES, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

DRUMMOND IS ALSO LEERY ABOUT THE DEAL BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OWNER WILL BE IN AN ISLAMIC FOREIGN MONARCHY.

DRUMMOND'S FILING HAS COME UNDER FIRE BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, WHO SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT DRUMMOND, QUOTE, IS TURNING HIS MACHINE AGAINST ONE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TOP PRIORITIES, ONCE AGAIN WEAPONIZING HIS OFFICE TO SETTLE SCORES INSTEAD OF SERVING OKLAHOMANS.

THERE WERE MORE HOUSES FOR SALE IN OKLAHOMA CITY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY THAN THERE WERE AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

THAT'S THE FINDING OF THE REALTOR.COM, A HOUSING REPORT.

ACTIVE LISTINGS INCREASED BY 9.7% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WITH NEW LISTINGS GROWING BY 4.1%.

THE MEDIAN LIST PRICE FOR THOSE HOMES IS $319,000, WHICH IS A 3.3% DROP FROM MAY OF 2025.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED VIGILANT AEROSPACE HAS INSTALLED ITS ADVANCED AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CALLED FLIGHT HORIZON TEMPO, AT THE INFINITY ONE OKLAHOMA SPACEPORT IN BURNS FLAT.

THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE AND AERONAUTICS DESIRE TO BUILD OUT A NATIONAL LAUNCH PAD FOR MILITARY AND AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT AND SPACECRAFT.

FLIGHT HORIZON TEMPO PROVIDES A DETECT AND AVOID SYSTEM TO HELP KEEP AIRCRAFT SAFE.

CURRENT COVERAGE OF THE SYSTEM MEASURES ABOUT 5000KM!S, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO APPROXIMATELY 10,000KM!S.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BANK SEVEN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DECLARED A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.27 A SHARE.

THE DIVIDEND IS SET TO BE PAID ON JULY 7TH.

FOR THOSE WHO HOLD THE STOCK BY JUNE 19TH.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

OKLAHOMA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE NOW JUST 12 DAYS AWAY, AND ALMOST EVERY MAJOR STATE OFFICE, INCLUDING GOVERNOR, WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, MODERATOR SUSAN CADDO AND HER PANEL OF OKLAHOMA POLITICAL EXPERTS BREAK DOWN THE BALLOT.

SUSAN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR OUR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

ROSE STATE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR JAMES DAVENPORT.

KYLE LOVELESS WITH THE POLLING FIRM EYES OVER TECHNOLOGY, AND OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRWOMAN ERIN BREWER.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

WELL, WE'VE GOT THE PRIMARIES COMING UP UPON US VERY QUICKLY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GENERAL PRIMARY INFORMATION.

THERE IS A LOT FOR VOTERS TO CONSIDER, CORRECT?

ERIN?

THAT'S RIGHT.

EVERYONE HAS A BALLOT IN THIS PRIMARY.

REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, LIBERTARIAN.

THERE'S SOMETHING FOR YOU TO VOTE ON ON JUNE 16TH.

AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING IN THE PRIMARIES.

WHY?

SURE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT YOUR PARTY IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RACES WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.

AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY A CANDIDATE FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT YOU WANT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTERS SHOW UP FOR THEM.

AND SO PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE SELECTION OF THOSE THOSE EVENTUAL NOMINEES.

AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR POLLS, YOU DO SOMETHING KIND OF UNUSUAL WHEN YOU'RE DOING POLLING.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

WELL, OUR EYES OVER WE WE DO POLLING.

IT'S THE TRADITIONAL POLLING, BUT WE ALSO WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT, WE USE AI TO HARNESS ONLINE SENTIMENT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE POSTING THINGS, TALKING ABOUT THINGS, WHETHER IT BE SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWS FEEDS, COMMENTS ON YOUTUBE, COMMENTS ON INSTAGRAM, ALL THAT TYPE OF THING.

WE KIND OF DIGEST IT ALL TOGETHER, GIVE THOSE PEOPLE A CANDIDATES A SUPPORT SCORE, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO CLIENTS SAYING, THIS IS WHAT'S WORKING, THIS IS WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

THIS IS OUR WAYS THAT YOU CAN BETTER POSITION YOURSELF.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S INSTEAD OF A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, LIKE TRADITIONAL POLLING IS, IT IS REAL TIME EVERY HOUR ON OUR EVERY DAY.

SO INSTEAD OF DOING IT, YOU KNOW, A FIXED SET OF QUESTIONS, IT'S KIND OF INTERACTIVE THAT WAY.

SO LET'S, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

OKAY.

FOR THE GOP PRIMARY, WE HAVE, I THINK, NINE CANDIDATES.

WHO'S THE FRONT RUNNER THUS FAR THAT YOU CAN TELL?

WELL, I MEAN, SINCE UP UNTIL LAST FRIDAY, GARDNER DRUMMOND WAS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE WOULD BE THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM FRONTRUNNER.

AND LAST FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHED IN.

AND ONCE HE DID, THEN IT KIND OF PUT THE LANDSCAPE OF OKLAHOMA KIND OF HAS BEEN SHIFTING EVER SINCE.

IT'S MIKE MAZIE THE NUMBER ONE IN FRONT.

IS HE NUMBER TWO?

BECAUSE UP UNTIL THEN, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF POLLS THAT SHOWED HIM SNEAKILY GOING HIGHER AND HIGHER.

AND SO THE QUESTION IS, DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT HIM IN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT OR THE NUMBER TWO?

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL KIND OF UP IN THE AIR.

ALL RIGHT, ERIN, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE.

HOW IS THAT RACE SHAPING UP FOR OKLAHOMA?

SO WE HAVE A LEADING CANDIDATE, CYNDI MUNSON.

SHE'S THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEMOCRAT, AND SHE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR OVER A YEAR.

CONNIE JOHNSON JUMPED IN AT THE FILING DEADLINE.

SHE HAS RUN BEFORE.

ARIA IS KIND OF AN UNKNOWN PERSON WHO'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO DEFINITELY DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHOICE IN JUNE AND WE HOPE THEY'LL TURN OUT.

I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE.

IT SEEMS LIKE DEMOCRATS ALWAYS HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE IN ELECTIONS.

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT'S BEEN A MINUTE, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY TO OVERCOME THAT?

YEAH.

SO WE AS A PARTY HAVE BEEN DOING QUITE A BIT OF WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR OUR CANDIDATES TO SUCCEED.

AND THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT GROUND GAME, THOSE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING EFFORTS.

SO WE HAVE MORE ACTIVE COUNTY PARTIES THAN WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS.

WE'VE KNOCKED 150,000 DOORS, JUST DEMOCRATS TALKING TO DEMOCRATS IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE, JUST BUILDING ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM TOWARD THESE ELECTIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE 150 CANDIDATES RUNNING, WHICH IS TRIPLE THE NUMBER WE HAD IN 2024.

THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

THOSE DOWN BALLOTS REALLY DRIVE VOTES FOR UP BALLOT CANDIDATES.

JAMES, WHEN IT COMES TO PRIMARIES, WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER, VOTERS TEND TO SAY, I'LL JUST VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THE GOP CANDIDATES OR THE INDEPENDENTS OR THE DEMOCRATS?

AND AND WHY IS THAT AN ERRONEOUS TRAIN OF THOUGHT?

WELL, LIKE I SAID, DO YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF CANDIDATES WHO COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT SIDES OF, SAY, THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT PARTIES IN THESE PRIMARIES?

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON WHERE A VOTER TURNOUT MIGHT BE LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND A CANDIDATE OUTPERFORMS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED IF YOU'D HAD MORE NORMAL TURNOUT AND YOU GET A NOMINEE THAT MAYBE IS NOT AS WELL POSITIONED TO RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION JUST BASED ON TURNOUT AND NOT BEING WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

AND SO VOTERS REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HERE'S WHO I WANT, HERE'S WHO I THINK THE REPUBLICAN OR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY SHOULD BE.

HERE'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABOUT.

HERE'S WHO I THINK IS GOING TO HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WIN IN NOVEMBER AND GET OUT THERE AND VOTE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES.

WELL, ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANDIDATES OF THE SAME PARTY, WHETHER NO MATTER WHICH PARTY IT IS, IT IS TRUE.

THE DIFFERENCES ARE MORE SLIM.

RIGHT.

AND SO BUT THERE ARE THERE ARE CERTAINLY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.

I THINK GENTNER DRUMMOND IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF REPUBLICAN THAN, SAY, CHARLES MCCALL OR EVEN MIKE MAZZEI.

AND SO I THINK, YES, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES.

THERE'S DIFFERENCE IN EXPERIENCE LEVELS.

AS WAS MENTIONED, CYNDI MUNSON HAS BEEN THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

SHE'S BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR 12 YEARS NOW.

SO SHE HAS SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN STATE POLITICS.

SHE UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES, WHEREAS CONNIE JOHNSON HAS BEEN IN THE STATE SENATE BEFORE.

BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE SHE'S BEEN IN OFFICE.

AND AS WAS MENTIONED, AREA HAS NOT REALLY ANY POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

AND SO, YEAH, THERE'S DIFFERENCES BASED ON EITHER POSITIONS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN ON ISSUES OR EXPERIENCE, ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH VOTERS.

AND ALL OF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

OKAY.

I LIKE TO SAY REAL QUICK WHEN IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO BRAHMS AND THEY GOT ALL THE FLAVORS OUT THERE, YOU GOT TO PICK ONE.

BUT THE TIMER IS IT'S GOT TO HAPPEN BEFORE JUNE 16TH, RIGHT?

AND SO BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT MELTS AND IT'S ALL A MESS.

SO WHAT WHAT THUS FAR IN YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT IS WHAT ARE VOTERS MOST INTERESTED IN?

WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMA VOTERS RIGHT NOW?

WELL, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THE BIGGEST THEMES, ISSUES THAT SEES BOTH TRENDS NATIONALLY AS WELL AS LOCALLY IS AFFORDABILITY, THE ECONOMY, JOBS.

AND THEN UNDERNEATH THAT, YOU HAVE CULTURAL ISSUES AS WELL AS EDUCATION IS ALWAYS A PROMINENT ISSUE.

AND SO YOU HAVE LIKE ALL AND IT'S NOT IT USED 2015, TEN YEARS AGO.

IT USED TO BE YOU COULD JUST SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE?

AND THAT WOULD BE IT.

NOW IT'S KIND OF LIKE THINGS ARE ALL MELDING TOGETHER WHERE AFFORDABILITY IS AFFECTING, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NUANCE BOTH IN YOUR MESSAGING THAT CANDIDATES GIVE AS WELL AS SOLUTIONS AS WELL.

SO SPEAKING OF AFFORDABILITY, SOMETHING THAT OETA IS TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS YEAR IS THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS RACE.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE SKYROCKETING HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE PRICES IN OKLAHOMA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST, IF NOT THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

IS THAT SOMETHING USUALLY, AARON, THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR PARTY FOCUSES ON THAT, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IN THE FOCUS OF, OF NOT ONLY YOUR PARTY, BUT OTHER PARTIES IN OKLAHOMA?

I THINK THAT IS AN ISSUE ACROSS ALL OKLAHOMANS.

PEOPLE WHO OWN A HOME IN OKLAHOMA ARE FRUSTRATED FOR A REASON AT THEIR VERY, VERY HIGH HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.

AND WE AS A PARTY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, FRANKLY, OUR REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE HAS FAILED TO CHANGE THE LAWS THAT WOULD ALLOW OUR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO ADDRESS THIS RISING COST.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, CRAIG MCINTYRE IS THE ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE IN THAT RACE.

HE ABSOLUTELY KNOWS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ON A POLICY SIDE TO LOWER OUR HOME INSURANCE RATES.

IT IS POSSIBLE ALL OUR NEIGHBORING STATES PAY LESS FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE WITH THE SAME WEATHER PATTERNS THAT WE HAVE IN OKLAHOMA, RIGHT?

WE'RE NOT GETTING SO MANY MORE TORNADOES THAN EVERYBODY ELSE OR HAIL.

SO THAT THAT IS AN INCORRECT REASON FOR WHY WE HAVE SUCH HIGH RATES.

SO DO PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TO RACES LIKE THIS, AND HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO PAY ATTENTION FOR SOMETHING LIKE JUNE 16TH?

I THINK IN NORMAL ELECTION YEARS, THAT INSURANCE COMMISSIONER RATE IS KIND OF GOING TO BE ON THE BOTTOM OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE THINKING.

BUT BECAUSE, AS AARON MENTIONED, EVERY HOMEOWNER HAS BEEN FACING THIS ISSUE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN WHAT ARE THE THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM THE CANDIDATES ARE PROPOSING AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO.

AND SO I THINK IT'LL BE A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY THAN PERHAPS IN PRIOR ELECTIONS, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FEELING.

WE'VE BEEN FEELING IT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DISAGREEMENT, BOTH WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL AS THERE'S BEEN SOME DISSATISFACTION WITH HOW THE CURRENT INSURANCE COMMISSIONER HAS HANDLED THIS.

SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE BE AN ISSUE THAT, YEAH, THAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS YEAR.

SO JUST A QUICK PLUG.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LIVE GOP INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS CANDIDATES FORUM JUNE 9TH AT 7 P.M.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WITH CHRIS MEREDITH, MARTY QUINN, GRETA SCHULER, AND BOB SULLIVAN.

DO NOT BE DISMAYED, ERIN, BECAUSE WE WILL.

RICH LENZ, OUR NEWS DIRECTOR AND NEWS ANCHOR, WILL BE INTERVIEWING CRAIG MCINTYRE FOR THE NEWSCAST WITH A STANDALONE INTERVIEW WITH HIM.

THIS INTERVIEW WILL BE DONE AFTER HE SEES THE THE LIVE FORUM, SO CRAIG WON'T BE ON THE BALLOT UNTIL NOVEMBER.

SO TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE WANT IT TO BE FAIR IN ALL IN ALL THINGS FOR THAT.

SO ANOTHER THING WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

AND THIS PRIMARY IS THERE'S A STATE QUESTION ON THE BALLOT REGARDING MINIMUM WAGE THAT THEY COULD VOTERS CAN ONLY VOTE ON ON THE 16TH.

WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT TOWARDS RAISING MINIMUM WAGE?

IT IS SOMEWHAT DIVIDED BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEORETICALLY THEY SAY, OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF MAYBE HAVING A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ONCE EVERY WHATEVER, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT LANGUAGE THAT THAT IS THE DIVIDING LINE IS THAT IT PAIRS IT TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THE NATIONAL COST OF INFLATION.

SO YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING IF THE COST OF LIVING IS RAISED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE OUR MINIMUM WAGE HERE.

SO AND IT TAKES IT AWAY FROM THE STATE LEGISLATORS, STATE LEGISLATIVE BODIES ABILITY TO CHANGE IT AND MAKES IT TO WHERE IT AUTOMATICALLY HAPPENS.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S NOT JUST A ONE TIME MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.

IT IS IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT FOR 30, 40, 50 YEARS.

ERIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT MINIMUM WAGE HAS NOT BEEN RAISED IN OKLAHOMA SINCE 2009, MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRIGGER, YES OR NO?

WELL, WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED.

OUR LEGISLATURE HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.

THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE TOOK IT INTO OUR HANDS.

THIS WAS A PETITION INITIATIVE PETITION WHERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS SIGNED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO VOTE ON.

SO I THINK THE AUTOMATIC RATE INCREASE BASED ON INFLATION, WHICH AFFECTS OKLAHOMA, OUR ECONOMY, IS ABSOLUTELY DIRECTED BY THE NATIONAL ECONOMY HERE.

AND OUR.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY INCREMENTAL CHANGES.

NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.

AND IT MAKES IT A NONPOLITICAL ISSUE.

IT JUST MEANS THAT PEOPLE GET TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

WELL, IT IS CATCH 22, BUT I WILL SAY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING HAS STATED THAT AT MINIMUM WAGE IN OKLAHOMA, A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO WORK 90 HOURS PER WEEK, 90 PLUS HOURS PER WEEK TO AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM, FAIR MARKET VALUE APARTMENT.

SO WHEREAS THERE HAS TO BE A MIDDLE GROUND, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO.

AND ALSO YOU ALSO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT, LIKE MY MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER, SHE WORKS AT A LOCAL HAMBURGER JOINT AND THEY'VE ALREADY TOLD HER IF IT PASSES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT PEOPLE'S SHIFTS.

AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE, THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.

AND THEY SAID, AND ON TOP OF IT, CHANGE OUR PRICES.

SO IT'S NOT AN EASY ISSUE.

IT ISN'T AN EASY ISSUE.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT OKLAHOMANS NEED TO BRUSH UP ON BEFORE THEY GO VOTE.

THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WILL RISE OUT OF POVERTY IF WE SAY YES.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY QUIET, JAMES.

I HAVE LET'S START WITH KIND OF THE POLITICAL QUESTION.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON TUESDAY WHEN PEOPLE GO UP AND VOTE?

AND I THINK THAT LARGELY IS GOING TO DEPEND ON TURNOUT.

I THINK THE LOWER THE TURNOUT, THE CLOSER, AND PERHAPS THE QUESTION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK THE HIGHER THE TURNOUT, IT WILL PROBABLY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF GOING TO BE KEY IS WHO SHOWS UP AND VOTES.

EVEN IN REPUBLICAN CIRCLES.

IF YOU LOOK AT REPUBLICAN VOTERS, I THINK YOU'VE SEEN LARGELY MORE SUPPORT FOR INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE THAN NOT.

SO I THINK IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF THOSE REPUBLICANS SHOW UP IN THE PRIMARY, YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SEE A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT ON THAT PART.

LET'S SEE, WE TALKED ABOUT CANDIDATE MAZIE, MAISIE.

MAISIE, HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT WILL THE ENDORSEMENT HAVE?

DO ENDORSEMENTS REALLY MATTER IN RACES THESE DAYS?

WELL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO THE ENDORSEMENTS COMING FROM.

AND ALSO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, AN ENDORSEMENT SIX MONTHS AGO WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IT DOES THE ONE THAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY.

AND COMING FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, I MEAN, THAT THAT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE RIGHT AWAY.

AND AND THAT PROBABLY GAVE HIM A 10 TO 15 POINT BUMP OVERNIGHT.

SO, I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO HE WAS, WHO ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PRESIDENT SAYING, HE'S MY GUY.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S A CATCH 22 BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY DID HE GET THAT ENDORSEMENT?

HOW DID HE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEY EVEN MET, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS.

BUT WHEN ONCE, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT MAKES AN ENDORSEMENT, THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL.

JAMES.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET ENDORSEMENTS?

WELL, THEY GO AFTER THEM A LOT OF TIMES, RIGHT?

SO I AM SURE ALL OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO SECURE AN ENDORSEMENT FROM FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THEY ALL SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON ADS TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS THAT THEY WERE THE CLOSEST TO A A PRESIDENT TRUMP STYLE CANDIDATE.

THEN THE OTHER THERE ARE OTHERS.

AND SO THAT WAS GOING ON.

SO I THINK ALL OF THEM THOUGHT IT WAS VALUABLE.

IT VERY WELL MAY BE VALUABLE.

IS IT AS VALUABLE AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO YEARS AGO?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE SEEN EVEN IN OKLAHOMA, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NUMBERS KIND OF STARTING TO COME DOWN.

HOWEVER, IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WITH PRIMARY VOTERS, I THINK HE'S STILL PROBABLY PRETTY POPULAR.

SO IT MAY IT MAY TURN OUT TO BE A NOTICEABLE HELP FOR FOR MAZIE AS HE AS HE TRIES TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PRIMARY.

I THINK, AGAIN, IT'LL DEPEND ON TURNOUT.

IT'LL DEPEND ON HOW TO DO THESE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO NOW DIDN'T GET THE ENDORSEMENT.

WHAT'S THEIR MESSAGE NOW?

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PIVOT NOW THAT THAT TRUMP HAS WEIGHED IN ON AND SELECTED ONE CANDIDATE TO BE, YOU KNOW, HIS HIS PERSON?

AARON, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT I'M GOING TO LET YOU WRAP IT UP FOR US.

WHAT ARE YOUR FINAL WORDS TO OKLAHOMANS ABOUT THE PRIMARIES?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO TURN OUT AND VOTE.

PLEASE LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

WE NEED YOU.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

BACK TO YOU, RICH.

THANK YOU SUSAN.

AND AS SHE MENTIONED, A SPECIAL PROGRAMING NOTE BEFORE WE GO, OETA WILL BE HOSTING A LIVE ONE HOUR KENNEDY FORUM WITH THE FOUR REPUBLICANS HOPING TO SUCCEED GLEN MULREADY AS STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER CHRIS MEREDITH, MARTY QUINN, BRENDA SHULER AND BOB SULLIVAN WILL JOIN US IN STUDIO NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M.

REPORTER JAKE HOLMAN WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH AND MYSELF WILL MODERATE THE DISCUSSION.

THE LONE DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE, CRAIG MCINTYRE, IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED, AND THEREFORE WE ELECTED TO HAVE THE GOP CANDIDATES TAKE PART IN THE FORUM PRIOR TO THE JUNE 16TH PRIMARY.

HOWEVER, CRAIG MCINTYRE WILL JOIN US FOR AN INTERVIEW AFTER THE FORUM, WHICH WILL AIR DURING THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT AT 7:00 ON JUNE 12TH.

WE'LL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE BOLEY RODEO EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE HALL OF FAME IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

HELLO AND WELCOME INTO OUR KITCHEN.

I'M CHRIS FENNIMORE AND THIS YEAR ON AMERICA'S HOME COOKING, WE'RE CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY WITH A BRAND NEW SPECIA